Ben Ledi Walk, The Trossachs Guide

Hiking and walking in Scotland is more impressive than I gave it credit for. After 6 years of living in BC in Canada where I’d spend my weekends hiking in the beautiful coastal mountain range, I’d forgotten how good it could be in Scotland.

Scotland is home to some truly beautiful hills and mountains and among them is Ben Ledi.

Ben Ledi is a Corbett that rises over Callander and Loch Lubnaig. My husband and I did the Ben Ledi walk from Strathyre on a beautiful day in early Spring, and we were blown away by the stunning views from the top.

Standing at 879 m tall (2884 ft), Ben Ledi is one of Scotland’s many Corbetts – a Scottish mountain over 2000ft (609m).

Although not as well-known as some of the bigger Munros (a Munro height must be at least 3000 ft, 941 m) such as Ben Nevis, Ben Ledi is a spectacular hill that is well worth the climb.

The path to the top of Ben Ledi is well-maintained and was upgraded by the Forestry Commission. It now includes a lot of steps to minimise path erosion which makes it easier to walk up in some ways (but harder if you hate steps, I guess!).

The Ben Ledi trail winds its way up through a short section of woodland before coming out to beautiful views which you’ll get to enjoy for the rest of the way. It’s an easy-to-follow trail, so you won’t need navigation skills for this hike, but having a map downloaded on AllTrails, or the OSMap either paper or on your phone, will help.

The name “Ben Ledi” is Gaelic and means “hill of the slope.” The name perfectly describes the summit, which has a gentle slope that leads up to the peak.

In the past, the name has also been taken to mean “hill of god,” and there is a cross at the summit of Ben but this is a memorial to Sergeant Harry Laurie of the Killin Scottish Mountain Rescue team, who died in a helicopter crash in 1987.

Ben Ledi has also been a place for Beltane celebrations, with locals using the summit to get as close to heaven as possible! Today, hiking up Ben Ledi on May Day and the Summer Solstice is still a popular activity.

Want to hike another munro? Check out this guide to hiking Stuc a Chroin nearby.

If you’re looking to do the Ben Ledi walk, I’ve included everything you’ll need to know for a safe hike in the Trossachs. From how to get to the trailhead, what to expect and how to pack for the Ben Ledi walk.

How to get to the trailhead for Ben Ledi

To get to the Ben Ledi trailhead, make your way first to Callander and from there it’s a short drive to the trailhead.

The trailhead is by Strathyre Cabins just off the A84. To get there, head south out of Callander on the A84 for around 3.2 miles, then turn left onto a small road when you see the Strathyre cabin signpost.

Cross over the bridge and there’s a small Ben Ledi car park almost immediately in front of you. If this is full, you can also park down the single-track lane which is on your left as you cross over the bridge.

What to know before doing the Ben Ledi walk

In addition to checking the Ben Ledi weather, you must always abide by the following:

• Always practice leave no trace ethics and pack out anything you take with you.
• Stick to pre-existing trails to avoid eroding the landscape
• Always pack layers and waterproofs – this is Scotland after all!
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Make sure you walk with your 10 essentials.

I also highly recommend picking up your sandwich for the peak from Mhor Bread & Store. We visited this great cafe and bakery several times during our month’s stay in Doune as part of our year of travel and all the sandwiches were so delicious. Highly recommend the salmon one and the beef with crispy onions!

Ben Ledi coffee, also in Callander, is great for a cup of coffee before your walk too. 

OS Maps are awesome for hiking in the UK. I’ve never found anything quite like them when in other countries. They have all features like churches, rivers, peaks, viewpoints and more. You can get paper maps (which are great for finding new places), and their app is super useful too.

Hiking the Ben Ledi trail

Hiking the Corbett Ben Ledi is well worth the climb with stunning views not only at the peak but for most of your walk.

To start the walk, head back to the small car park by the bridge (if you had to park further away) and look for the sign which takes you uphill.

The path can be a bit rocky in places and starts off fairly steep from the get-go.

After about 0.6 km you’ll come out to a road which is part of the Ben Ledi foothills trail, or another way to access this hike. Cross over the road and continue to follow the path as it goes uphill.

You’ll get some great views on this section of the Loch Lubnaig behind you, as well as the ridges and the peak of Ben Ledi ahead.

The path begins to swing around to the left and climbs towards the southern end of Ben Ledi, most of the trail at this point is rough steps and there’s an ever-so-slight descent at one point before you start to climb again

If you’re hiking on a clear day, you can even see all the way out to Stirling and the Wallace Monument! briefly descending at one point.

As you gain height on this ridge, you be able to see Loch Venachar before following the path to your right as you start to ascend a series of mini summits (or false peaks if you want to look at them that way!).

After each false summit, there’s a small descent before you start climbing again. From the second false summit, Meall Odhar you’ll finally be able to see the actual summit of Ben Ledi.

Near the summit of Ben Ledi is an iron cross which is a memorial to Sgt Harry Lawrie, who was killed on duty with the Killin Mountain Rescue team in 1987. The true summit is a short distance away marked by a cairn and trig point.

Up here you get amazing views of Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.

Looking for a great easy hike in Scotland? Check out the Ben A’an hike in the Trossachs!

Though we couldn’t quite see Ben Nevis, as we could from the top of Ben Lomond, you can make out Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich and other peaks in the Trossachs. 

You can either follow your steps back down to the car park or take the alternative route through Stank Glen.

Descent through Stank Glen

If you’re looking for an alternative descent route from Ben Ledi, the Stank Glen descent is an option, although it is rougher and requires more navigation.

You can use this AllTrails route to follow the trail if you have AllTrails+.

To begin the descent, continue along the ridge of Ben Ledi, making your way to the furthest point of the summit from where you came from.

The ridge follows a line of fenceposts at first and then goes right down to the bealach (a narrow mountain pass).

Note that if you reach little Lochan nan Corp, then you have passed the bealach and need to retrace your steps about 300 metres. Missing the descent can put you by the crags of Creag na h-Iolaire which are steep and dangerous, so take care not to miss it!

Once close to the stream, a clear path descends into the Stank Glen, keeping to the right of the stream.

Continue down the path, crossing a stile just to the left of a gate in a fence.

After a while, the main trail goes to the left and crosses a larger stream. Cross the bridge and continue down to reach a t-junction, turn right here and follow the path around the side of the glen.

When you reach a track, continue straight across past the wooden barriers and then descend more steeply until another track is reached.

Here, head right for a very short distance, and then turn left downhill into the forest, following the blue marker posts.

The path zig-zags through the trees and passes a viewing area for a waterfall.

Eventually, the path emerges at the corner of a track from where you should go downhill following the blue marker posts and staying on the track.

Soon you’ll pass a building on the left and reach the main drive for the houses along Loch Lubnaig.

Turn right here and pass through the fence on the left to join a path along the river.

Make another right and follow the track until you reach the car park.

Stats for walking Ben Ledi

Ben Ledi out and back (return via the route you walk up)

• Distance: 7.7 km
• Elevation: 750 m
• Duration: 2- 4 hours
• Difficulty: moderate – strenuous

Ben Ledi circular (return via Stank Glen)

• Distance: 10 km
• Elevation: 750 m
• Duration: 3-5 hours
• Difficulty: Strenuous

**All stats are rough guides and should not be taken to the metre**

What to pack for Ben Ledi Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

Final thoughts on the Ben Ledi Walk

The Ben Ledi walk is one of the best walks in the Trossachs that’s often overshadowed by some of the larger peaks and Munros like Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich. It’s a great way with amazing views for much of the way and is generally an easy trail to follow.

You can also turn it into a loop trail by following the more challenging descent through Stank Glen.

FAQs about doing the Ben Ledi hike

Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Hannah